Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Haplochromis: Greek, Haploos = single + Greek, chromis = a fish, perhaps a perch (Ref. 45335); vanheusdeni: The species name vanheusdeni honours the Dutchman Hans van Heusden, one of the most dedicated cichlid naturalists, who has documented for the first time with underwater photographs and videos as well as with aquarium observations the behaviour and ecology of this species and many other cichlids all over Africa (Ref. 97348).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical
Africa: Great Ruaha River basin, Tanzania (Ref. 97348).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 8.4 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 97348)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 16 - 18; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8 - 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 6 - 8; Vertebrae: 28 - 29. Diagnosis: Haplochromis vanheusdeni can be distinguished from all species of the genus Orthochromis except O. torrenticola by the presence of egg spots on the anal fin in both males and females vs. no egg spots, and by hypuralia 1 and 2 and hypuralia 3 and 4 either clearly separated or separated by a clearly visible seam vs. never fused into a single seamless unit (Ref. 97348). It can be distinguished from Orthochromis kalungwishiensis, O. kasuluensis, O. luongoensis and O. torrenticola by having fewer caudal vertebrae, 14-16 vs. 17; and fewer total vertebrae, 28-30 vs. 31-33; from O. rugufuensis and O. uvinzae by having fewer total vertebrae, 28-30 vs. 31-33, and dorsal fin spines, 16-17 vs. 19-20; from O. polyacanthus and O. rubrolabialis by having fewer inner series of teeth in the lower jaw, 1-2 vs. 3-5, and fewer dorsal fin spines, 16-17 vs. 18-20; and from O. malagaraziensis by having more scales between the lateral line and the dorsal fin origin, 3-4 vs. 5-6; from O. machadoi, O. mazimeroensis, O. stormsi and Haplochromis bakongo by having a scaleless chest vs. a scaled chest; from O. mosoensis by having small cycloid scaled on the belly vs. no scales; from O. luichensis by the different stripe and bar patterns on the head ; from Schwetzochromis neodon by the presence of lachrymal stripes and fewer inner teeth rows in both jaws, 1-3 vs. 4-6; from Haplochromis snoeksi by having fewer scales on the horizontal line, 26-29 vs. 30-31, and on upper lateral line, 20-22 vs. 23, and in having fewer caudal vertebrae, 14-16 vs. 17 (Ref. 97348).
Haplochromis vanheusdeni is a benthic-rheophilic fish, mostly found among stones over sand and debris in smaller streams or larger rivers (Ref. 97348). Underwater observations suggest a mixed diet of sand-and-debris dwelling organisms and drifting food particles (Ref. 98348). Large males and brood-caring females defend small territories, sometimes centred around a whole under stones; it is a maternal mouthbrooder (Ref. 97348).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Large males and brood-caring females defend small territories, sometimes centred around a whole under stones; it is a maternal mouthbrooder (Ref. 97348).
Schedel, F.D.B., J.P. Friel and U.K. Schliewen, 2014. Haplochromis vanheusdeni, a new haplochromine cichlid species from the Great Ruaha River drainage, Rufiji basin, Tanzania. Spixiana 37(1):135-149. (Ref. 97348)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01000 (0.00244 - 0.04107), b=3.04 (2.81 - 3.27), in cm total length, based on all LWR estimates for this body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.3 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
